Achaiwala(alsotransliteratedaschaiwalahorchaiwallah;Urdu:چائےوالا,Hindi:चायवाला) is a tea-seller in theIndian subcontinent.[1]They are an integral part ofsubcontinent culture.Chaiis the Hindi and Urdu word for "tea", as inmasala chai,andwalaindicates the person performing the task, sochaiwalais astreet vendorof tea.
 A chaiwala in Varanasi pouring a cup of chai. | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
Occupation type | Profession |
Activity sectors | Public |
| Description | |
Education required | No |
Chaiwalas, as an entrepreneurial group, tend to move from different regions of India to run their small business in major cities. They typically prepare the tea by boiling a mixture of water and milk, often with a spice mixture calledchai masala,and then addtea leavesandsugar,and then strain the drink into containers or a tea kettle. They usually serve tea in a small glasses or unglazed clay teacups (kulhar) but have started to use plastic cups. Traditionally, tea was made in brass vessels.
In popular culture
editIn the 1955 filmShri 420,the hero (portrayed byRaj Kapoor) takes the heroine (portrayed byNargis) to a roadside tea stall. Thechaiwalainsists on receiving a payment of twoannas(anna is 1/16th of a rupee) for the two cups.[2]This scene serves as a prelude for the famous song "Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua", during which the chaiwala is shown sipping the tea from a saucer (which was common among the unsophisticated people).
In the 2008 filmSlumdog Millionaire,the lead character,Jamal Malik(played byDev Patel), is a chaiwala in anIndian call center.
In the UK TV sitcomIt ain’t half hot mumDino Shafeekplays the chai wallah Muhammad. Muhammed walks around the camp all day, selling tea from his urn. He also sings the musical interruptions between the scenes, which are mostly American hit songs, accompanied by a sitar. At the end of the credits, he starts to sing "Land of Hope and Glory" only to be interrupted by the Sergeant Major shouting "SHUT UP!!!". After Rangi leaves, he takes on the role of Bearer to the concert party, as well as still being the Chai Wallah.
In literature
editThe 2021children's bookChaiwala![3]by Priti Birla Maheshwari "Sweetly captures a slice of Indian life."[4]It tells the story of a little girl's experience getting chai with her mother at a train station in India. The book is published in Canada byOwlKids Booksand illustrated by Ashley Barron.
Notable examples
editThe press has noted several successful chaiwalas:[5][6]They include:
- Dolly Chaiwalastarted off by his father's side as a chaiwala
- FormerChief Minister of BiharandRashtriya Janata DalChiefLalu Prasad Yadavstated that he was once a chaiwala.[7]
- Laxman RaoofDelhi,author of 24 books[8]
- Current Prime MinisterNarendra Modiwas once a chaiwala.
See also
edit- Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2012
- Tea lady,a similar occupation in Britain
References
edit- ^"What is a chai wallah?".Chai Wallahs of India.20 April 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 26 October 2020.Retrieved30 November2013.
- ^"Raj Kapoor Proposes To Nargis On Street - Shree 420 Most Viewed Scenes".Shemaroo. February 2, 2012.
- ^Maheshwari, Priti Birla (2021).Chaiwala!.Canada: OwlKids Books.ISBN9781771473682.
- ^"Kirkus Review of Chaiwala! by Priti Birla Maheshwari".Kirkus Reviews.29 June 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2021.Retrieved10 October2021.
- ^Eplett, Layla (June 14, 2016)."Tea Tuesday: Meet The Chai Wallahs Of India".NPR.
- ^"The chai walas of India, Showkat Shafi".Al JazeeraOctober
- ^"Lalu Yadav claims that he is real Chaiwala".IANS.Bihar Prabha.Retrieved13 February2014.
- ^"New Delhi's most famous tea seller: Meet Laxman Rao, chaiwallah by day, author by night".Firstpost. August 4, 2015.